Samenvatting

Introduction: Despite the growing interest in complementary healthcare, limited data are available about professionals’ perceptions of collaboration with complementary healthcare providers in mental healthcare. This study aims to gain insight into the feasibility of collaboration between general practitioners and practice nurses and complementary healthcare providers in the Amsterdam Southeast region for persons with mental health concerns.  Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using grounded theory procedures. Participants were recruited through a combination of purposive and snowball sampling strategies. Four general practitioners and 11 practice nurses participated in two focus groups and 4 individual interviews. Data collection continued until no substantially new themes emerged within the achieved sample. The constant comparative method was used for data analysis. Findings are reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist.  Results: The analysis yielded one central category, ‘Person-centred care’, supported by two related categories, ‘Accessibility’ and ‘Trust’. Together, these categories reflected the needs, experiences, and value judgements of general practitioners and practice nurses regarding collaboration with complementary healthcare providers.  Conclusion: To tailor mental healthcare to people from non-Western cultural backgrounds, practitioners and participants perceived mind-body interventions as compatible with non-Western health concepts, suggesting a possible role in bridging communication barriers. General practitioners and practice nurses indicated a need for more training and information about complementary and alternative medicine in this context. Referrals to complementary healthcare providers are influenced by professional experience and established networks. Complementary healthcare providers have a responsibility to improve accessibility, including contributing to up-to-date regional social mapping and integration within referral systems. This study highlights that the affordability of complementary medicine in lower-income regions, such as Amsterdam Southeast, remains a significant barrier. Funding: This research was supported by Regieorgaan SIA, part of the Dutch Research Council (NWO) under grant number PD01.003 and RBCZ organisation for complementary health practitioners in the Netherlands.